Golf: Spey Valley wash-out foils Fenwick’s bid to compete in Italian event

DUNBAR’S Neil Fenwick was disappointed that a final-round wash-out in the Scottish Hydro Challenge cost him the chance of an Italian job.

The former Dunfermline Athletic player was tied for 17th after 54 holes at Macdonald Spey Valley, having followed a pair of 69s with a 70 on Saturday.

He was confident heading into the final round about his chances of climbing into the top ten, which would have secured a place in this week’s Challenge Tour event in Italy, but he never got that opportunity due to the last-day’s play being scrapped because of waterlogging on the Aviemore course following heavy rain on Saturday night.

“It’s disappointing as I wanted to try and secure a spot in the top 10 and get into the event in Italy as well,” said Fenwick, who picked up a cheque for just under £1,900. At the same time, this performance has given me a lot of confidence because I’ve shown that I can hold my own at this level.

“This is where I want to be playing and hopefully I might be able to get some more chances on the Challenge Tour on the back of this display.”

Fenwick is in the field for the 36-hole Optical Express Tartan Tour event starting tomorrow.

The fourth of the season, it has attracted a field of over 100 players – the biggest of the year – and is made up of a mixture of Challenge, EuroPro and Tartan Tour players.

Former Ryder Cup star Ronan Rafferty is among them and he is paired in the first round with Russell Weir, the former Tartan Tour chieftain who has returned to playing in domestic tournaments this season.

West Linton’s Gareth Wright, winner at Dundonald, and Mortonhall’s former Walker Cup player David Patrick , who triumphed in the Tain/Brora tournament, also compete.